Peter began to say to Him, "See, we have left all and
followed You." —Mark 10:28
“Our motive for surrender should not be for any personal
gain at all. We have become so self-centered that we go to God only for something
from Him, and not for God Himself. It is like saying, “No, Lord, I don’t want
you; I want myself. But I do want You to clean me and fill me with Your Holy
Spirit. […] Genuine total surrender is a personal sovereign preference for
Jesus Christ Himself. Where does Jesus Christ figure in when we have a concern
about our natural relationships? Most of us will desert Him with this excuse—
“Yes, Lord, I heard you call me, but my family needs me and I have my own
interests. I just can’t go any further” (see Luke 9:57-62). “Then,” Jesus says,
“you ‘cannot be My disciple’ ” (see Luke 14:26-33). True surrender will always
go beyond natural devotion.” CHAMBERS
Does it matter what happens to you in the service of the
Lord? Many, today, would tell you that
being a Christian is really all about you.
What you will get out of the deal.
Health, wealth, happiness … heaven on earth. It does not take but a moment to see that
this is not heaven. The world we live in
is lost … the people are on the wide road headed for hell … When we were in
Mississippi after Katrina, a church sent a bus load of older people down to our
volunteer camp for a day. The pastor
wanted them to do something .. different and “Christian”. When I told him that if they got off of the
bus, when they got back on they would be dirty … he decided to give them a tour
of the devastation instead. So they
looked at the great loss … the destruction from the comfort of their seats. I went with them to describe what it was they
were seeing and then promised myself that I would never do that again. I was ministering to the people who had lived
in those homes. I knew the sorrow and
the pain that the people on the bus did not understand it. But, that is how it
is for many Christians. They don’t mind
sitting in the air-conditioning and looking out the window at the devastation
that sin has brought … but they do not want to get “dirty”.
Jesus said He did not come to be served but to serve. (Matthew 20:27-28) The Word tells us He had
no place to lay His head. (Luke 9:58)
Bad things happened to the Apostles.
Their mortal lives were very difficult. But their comfort was not their
focus .. it was serving Jesus. That
doesn’t mean Jesus is going to have you wander the streets .. but it could … It
means that as Job said .”Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” (Job
13:15) Don’t be content with just going
for a bus ride. ELGIN
1 Peter 4:12-16 “Dear
friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test
you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the
sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If
you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit
of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer
or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer
as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.”
Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)
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